Primrose by K. Aage Nielsen

Aage Nielsen is regarded as one of the finest designers of his generation, and he produced some of the best cruiser/racers to be designed to the Cruising Club of America’s handicapping rule of years past. A number of these boats, such as the locally well-known Northern Crown and Snow Star, are double-enders graced with Nielsen’s interpretation of the Danish stern, an especially attractive form that is also seaworthy and serves as an appropriate terminus to the water flow around the hull, for speed.

Primrose is the smallest of his double-ended designs, and she is arrestingly beautiful.  Her stern combines with the rest of her lines to convey a distinctive Danish look, and her overall form is that of a rugged offshore cruising boat, something rare and exotic in a very small daysailer. Few boats of her size could capture the imagination in quite the same way.

In terms of her contents she is essentially like a Herreshoff 12 ½, being an open boat with a large, deep, comfortable cockpit. She is quite at home in a bay chop, and sails like a larger boat than she is.  In terms of looks, ability, and feel, she cannot be beaten by any other boat of her diminutive size.  Non-capsizeable and capable of handling quite rough conditions, she is ideal for young people to find both adventure and safety. Requiring little effort to sail and possessed of undeniable “class”, she would be a fine boat for older yachtsmen as well.

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